The Oakland Athletics are still apparently in the running to sign lefty Scott Kazmir for rotation help, according to the latest from Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area. Stiglich cites a 'source with knowledge of the situation' as confirming Oakland's sustained interest in bringing Kazmir back to Oakland, something that has been discussed for weeks.
The A's took a flier on Henderson Alvarez late this week, signing the ex-Miami Marlins pitcher to a one-year deal worth $4 million (plus incentives). He won't be cleared to resume pitching until a bit after the 2016 season begins due to recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery, but he's a buy-low, high-reward type of acquisition by the Green and Gold.
Despite bringing him into the mix, Stiglich's report indicates that Oakland is still looking for additional rotation depth behind Sonny Gray, Rich Hill, Kendall Graveman, Chris Bassitt and other young pitchers that could be called upon in 2016. Kazmir, who has several suitors on the free agent market and could wind up priced out of Oakland's budget, would provide them with a second left-handed pitcher in addition to Hill if a deal was struck.
For what it's worth, A's closer Sean Doolittle sounded quite excited about the prospect of Kazmir returning to Oakland, with whom he spent 2014 and half of the 2015 campaign before the A's traded him to the Houston Astros for a package of minor-leaguers (including catching prospect Jacob Nottingham, whom FOX Sports interviewed about the trade after it went down).
